Sir , – When we arranged publicity photographs regarding the smoking ban in cars in which children are present, we used a sign that read, "It's against the law, Dad". JG Lacey (December 21st) makes a fair point. He says that the slogan was sexist in that it does not take account of the increasing number of women who smoke.
However, our point was to demonstrate that the commencement of the law on Friday gives children themselves power to encourage their parents or others not to smoke in the car. The focus of the sign was not actually on the “Dad” or the “Mum” but on the child and the fact that a child will now have a power of moral suasion over his or her parents or others to ask them not to surround them with health-damaging carcinogens while in the car. It’s worth noting that under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, children are recognised as rights holders with their own “agency” to make things happen. With this new law children are empowered to seek the right to travel in a smoke-free car. Separately of course the Garda will enforce the legislation. – Yours, etc,
MARK COSTIGAN,
Spokesman for
Dr James Reilly,
Minister for Children
and Youth Affairs, Dublin 4.